High pick and roll the Pistons' fatal flaw?

Chris McCosky has a really interesting column about the Pistons' struggles guarding the high pick and roll, which was extensively exposed by Orlando and Chicago in the last two games.

January 23, Detroit News: It has been especially challenging for the Pistons. LeBron James of the Cavaliers ruined them with that play in the playoffs last year. Earlier this month, the Celtics beat the Pistons at The Palace with Paul Pierce initiating the play (often setting up Glen Davis). Chicago has hurt Detroit three times this season -- all Bulls victories -- with Andres Nocioni doing most of the damage to the Pistons.

In the Pistons' loss Monday, Hedo Turkoglu of the Magic wore the Pistons out running the high pick and roll.

"It's a tough play," Pistons guard Chauncey Billups said. "If you put too much into stopping (Turkoglu), then Dwight Howard is making dunks. It's kind of a cat-and-mouse game."

The Pistons' best defense against this basketball strategy mainstay is playing zone, but McCosky notes Detroit's struggles in that department in Monday night's loss.

Coach Flip Saunders did alter the defense, a couple of times. In the third quarter, with the Pistons trying to play catch-up, he went to a zone defense. The Magic got one field goal against it in six minutes. The problem was, the Pistons kept fouling. The Magic made nine free throws in that stretch.

The question becomes, how can Detroit counter this weakness before the playoffs, where they will inevitably run into many of the teams that have the ideal personnel to expose it?